Tag Archives: Driving in Jamaica

This time last week, I was still in sunny Jamaica, one of my favorite countries in the Caribbean and a place I once called home.

My trusted friend and fellow adventurous soul at the wheel–Lorraine has more than 20 years’ of memories traveling to the Rock–we hopped across seven parishes in eight days.

From Montego Bay airport, with a welcoming committee offering rum shots to passengers right off the JetBlue flight, we headed straight to Port Antonio and the renovated Trident Hotel, with scenic stops along the way, or what Lorraine and I call “paparazzi” stops.

During the few hours we managed to detach ourselves from our villa’s private pool and Trident’s infinity view of rugged cliffs and turquoise waves–once a favorite hideout of pirates–we swam at a nearby beach and snacked on Boston Bay jerk chicken. “One white and one dark!” a young man ordered for us with a smile, as soon as he saw Lorraine and I approach. Ah, that Jamaican memory! The >> Continue reading »

I can’t recall how many times we turned around during our road trip. Or how often we gasped. The “oohs” and “aahs” common to first-time visitors to Jamaica. Except, it’s not our first time, and we’re not typical tourists. We’ve both lived in Jamaica for months at a time – six months here, four months there, year after year. We know the land, the people, the culture, and yet we still gush. Three years of “shooting” this island so far for me. But I have more to cover, much much more. I still dream of all the roads I have yet to explore and show, new ways to immerse myself and capture the essence of this island.

We are just barely an hour away from Negril when we start making U-turns and photo stops. The plan was to drive to Ocho Rios on Day 1 and arrive there around 2 p.m. so we could look for a place to stay for the night, before nightfall. A sort of pit stop on our way east of the island to Port Antonio, Long Bay, Manchineal and ultimately Kingston.

Well, we didn’t make it to Ochie until 8 p.m. on the first day. That’s the thing in Jamaica, there’s always something going on on the road – someone fishing, some cute hut perched on a cliff calling your name, a fresh fruit stand to sample, an unexpected river to swim in or a friendly Jamaican to share stories with. Or even familiar faces to meet up with halfway up the island, because you never know who’s on the road too that day. There’s no rush, everything will happen when it will, if you will.

No matter how often you’ve traveled a road, there’s always something you missed before, or maybe even something new to absorb. And with a rental car, you can go wherever you please. No driver to wait on you (that always made me uncomfortable), no structured or forced stops, and no limits to off-the-beaten track drives. Just endless vistas and “cool spots” along the way.

(Above) View of Montego Bay, about an hour and twenty minutes from Negril.